Algae Scrubber help

[Purple Platapus]

Hello everyone I am trying to make a diy algae scrubber and I found that there are two types: where the water drips/falls over the algae's growing media and one where air bubbles over the algae's growing media. So here is a question for you who have experience with this contraption: which one works better? Drip-down type or bubbles type? Thanks

Also which stores do you recommend for finding the knitting canvas on which the algae grows on? I can't find any.

 

[9balliw]

I have a waterfall style scrubber and it is working good The choice of which one would depend on your setup. I found the plastic knitting sheet at hobby lobby but any craft store should have them And then rough it up good As for lighting I found some LEDs on eBay for cheap and work good

 

[Stephanie11]

I just made a water fall style scrubber 2 days ago.
More people can chime in.
One with bubbles is an up flow.
Up flow you need space in your sump

 

[Turbo's Aquatics]

Also which stores do you recommend for finding the knitting canvas on which the algae grows on?

You want Darice #7 plastic canvas. Check fabric supply stores. Down here, it's a Jo-Ann Fabric, Michaels, sometimes WalMart. Clear stuff (not really clear, just not colored)

I rough up using 2 stages: first, I clamp it down on the corners and use a wire brush (center crimp only) attachment on a drill at slow/medium speed, and make passes left/right, top/bottom, & diagonal both ways, flip and repeat. Then I use a sharp tooth saw blade held in hand and to ~1" concentric circles clockwise then counterclockwise, flip, repeat. Works well.

This video is older and doesn't show the first stage, but I do cut myself which is awesome.

 

[TaylorPilot]

I watched it cringing the whole time in anticipation of you taking a chunk of your finger off. Flinging that sharp blade so close to your fingers! LOL Almost as bad as the time I got my pinky finger stuck between two MP40 wetsides when I was cleaning them. I could not pull them apart and was running around the house with the tip of my finger stuck between them screaming at my wife to help me cause I only had one good hand. We both could barely get them apart. She though it was hilarious after the fact. Honestly, it was kinda funny afterwards.

 

[Turbo's Aquatics]

Yeah that's about as bad as 2 old school Tunze magnets

 

[drstratton]

Here is my algae scrubber. Rybren showed me this about 5 yrs ago, when I first put my tank together! Two veggie clips and a piece of plastic canvas. I did learn from this thread that you need to rough it up a bit. So that is done and it is back in place! I can't wait to see if I get better results this go around.

 

[DeniseAndy]

I love my upflow. I think the difference is how they will work best in your set up. I have nice spaces in my sump for the upflow.

 

[drstratton]

I honestly didn't know to much about them, I was just starting in the hobby. It worked really well, was very simple and was perfect for my setup! How does an upflow work?

 

[DeniseAndy]

Upflow works using an airflow up a sheet of same material as mentioned above, Darice #7 plastic canvas. These are usually places into the water (preferably a sump). Then light is run onto them for 12 -16 hours a day. Same concept, but adding the air. This creates an ideal environment in a small space.

 

[drstratton]

Thank you for the explanation! I love to learn new things and in this hobby there is a lot to learn!!!

 

[DeniseAndy]

You will never stop learning. Just have different focuses. It is so evolving, I cannot keep up with everything. I focus on what interests me and go for being good at that.

 

[drstratton]

Exactly, if you try to look at and master everything at once it would become pretty overwhelming!

 

[nyreef123]

Drip-down type is definitely more efficient.

 

[drstratton]

Drip-down type is definitely more efficient.

Is that what you use?

 

[Windy]

Here is what I did.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/algae-scrubber-lighting.169399/

 

[drstratton]

Here is what I did.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/algae-scrubber-lighting.169399/

That's a very impressive build!

 

[WillieD]

I know this is from August but, here is my algae scrubber. Rybren showed me this about 5 yrs ago, when I first put my tank together! Two veggie clips and a piece of plastic canvas. I did learn from this thread that you need to rough it up a bit. So that is done and it is back in place! I can't wait to see if I get better results this go around.

Hey drstratton...so you using the plastic mesh for a barrier in your sump? So it seems like a fuge with holes? I am def trying this?

 

[drstratton]

Hey drstratton...so you using the plastic mesh for a barrier in your sump? So it seems like a fuge with holes? I am def trying this?

Lol, that wasn't what I was going for, but it does look that way! It works fantastic & doesn't take up any room. I use a 6500k bulb in my sump.